The result was evidence of progress from United, and one man in particular played brilliantly. You won't see Phil Jones hitting many headlines or last-minute winners, but he deserves praise for his role in the weekend's win.

Former United defender Phil Neville said recently Jones "has the ability to become United's number one centre-back," but few others have commented on his return to form.

With that in mind, we asked our reporters who they thought was the biggest 'unsung hero' in the Premier League. Below are their answers...

John Cross

James Milner (Liverpool)

(Image: Andrew Powell)

What a great pro. This season, he's become an excellent left back. He'll do any job for the team.

Unsung, undervalued and often under appreciated. But never, ever under committed.

Andy Dunn

(Image: REX/Shutterstock)

Etienne Capoue (Watford)

His early season goal scoring form might have faded but Etienne Capoue remains the key cog in a Watford machine that has quietly motored into seventh place.

Having not scored once last season, he has five this campaign and allied to a work ethic that regularly sees him amongst the Premier League’s top distance-coverers, that makes Capoue a mainstay of Walter Mazzarri’s plans.

Simon Mullock

(Image: Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty)

Jordan Pickford (Sunderland)

Sunderland's goalkeeper is showing that it isn't always madness to ask young players to do a man's job in a struggling team.It's a thankless task playing behind the Black Cats' defence, but Pickford's reputation is being enhanced with every passing week and the 22-year-old will surely be a contender for the PFA's young player of the year award if he maintains the form he has shown so far.

Steve Bates

(Image: Getty Images)

Ander Herrera (Manchester United)

There are bigger and more expensive names at Old Trafford, but the Spanish midfielder has been the heartbeat of Manchester United's return to form in recent weeks. Dynamic, aggressive and willing to do the hard yards, no-one gives more to the cause than Herrera who is proving himself the ultimate team player. United fans - and Jose Mourinho- love his infectious commitment and his threaded pass for Henrikh Mykhitaryan's winner against Spurs was a standout moment for the Spanish international.

Video Loading

Video Unavailable

Click to playTap to play

The video will start in 8Cancel

Play now

Neil McLeman

(Image: PA)

Jonny Evans (West Brom)

The Northern Ireland centre-back can mix it physically - as he did with Diego Costa - and also be a ball-playing defender. He is at the centre of all that is good about West Brom - and was for Sunderland and Manchester United before.

Hamish Mackay

(Image: Reuters)

Etienne Capoue (Watford)

I have to hold my hands up and say I didn't think Walter Mazzarri would be a good fit at Watford. It looks like I was wrong. The Italian has guided the Hornets to seventh in the table after 15 games and they're now just three points behind Manchester United. The one player who is really befitting from Mazzarri's tactics is Capoue. I thought the Frenchman was unlucky to be sold by Spurs — he's clearly talented and is now showing it. We always knew he was an excellent defensive midfielder but the 28-year-old has added a new element to his game. He is contributing to play all over the pitch for Watford and has already chipped in with five league goals (the same as Philippe Coutinho, Mesut Ozil, Roberto Firmino and Jamie Vardy).